Festivals

A variety of useful websites for this time of year:

Harvest Festival
http://www.longman.co.uk/tt_pri/calendar/nov_00/harvest.htm - This site provides the historical background to Harvest Festivals.
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/religion/relra/?view=get -This is a teacher resource site that contains a sequence of activities and introduces the idea of religious festivals.
http://www.cist.org/pv/dm/dr1221.htm - A brief introduction on how Harvest is celebrated and why it is special.

Bonfire Night
http://www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk/food_feasting/bonfirenight.htm - Provides information on the history of Guy Fawkes and how it is being celebrated today.
http://www.guy-fawkes.com/ -This site provides a general overview of Bonfire Night– the history behind it, how it’s celebrated today and the Firework Safety Code.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Guy.html - Includes a brief history on Guy Fawkes, interesting facts about fireworks and rhymes associated with the Gunpowder Plot.
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/bonfire_night.htm - This is an activity page, which includes various activities, fact sheets and rhymes.

Remembrance Day
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Remembrance.html - This site explains what is Remembrance Day and the reason behind the poppy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A653924 - Provides a historical overview of Remembrance Day/Poppy Day
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/history/his17/?view=get - This is a teacher resource site, which contains a sequence of activities and investigates the origin of Remembrance Day.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/history/index.shtml - This site identifies the significance of the poppy and the two minutes silence, the history of The Cenotaph and the involvement of The Scouts.

Christmas
www.hobbycraft.co.uk - good craft ideas
www.request.org.uk - printable instructions for things to make and do
www.christmas-activities.com - good colouring sheets and craft ideas
www.northpole.com - this site has stories to read, and pictures to print and colour. Children can send a message to Santa via email (safely) and get a reply or send an e-card to their friends. Mrs Claus has a variety of recipes to make.
www.familygames.com - the poinsettia, a traditional Christmas flower, originally grew in which country? Try this site for 3 fun Christmas quizzes
www.claus.com Get a 'naughty or nice' rating, watch Santa make toys, and sing along to the Karaoke. There's also another opportunity to email Santa.
www.christmas.com - this site's aim is to have some information about Christmas and how it is celebrated for every country in the world.
Free pictures that can be printed out and coloured in, try www.thekidzpage.com
http://www.ers.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/christmas.htm - This site includes a variety of Christmas activities,puzzles, stories, recipes and songs.

Diwali
www.underfives.co.uk - nice art and craft teaching ideas.

Hanukkah
www.akhlah.com - good site with info for chldren about Hanukkah vocabulary, traditions and recipes.
www.holidays.net - not an overly child-friendly site but does have some useful info and images relating to hanukkah.
www.virtualjerusalem.com - good site for teachers to get information about customs surrounding hanukkah.
www.kidsdomain.com - good list of links to hanukkah sites for children.